Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • November 21, 2012 Ho-Ho-Kus Police need residents’ help to prevent crime by Jennifer Crusco Each year, as the daylight hours get shorter and the holidays approach, the potential for criminal activity increases. Once again, the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department is urging residents to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious activity to police headquarters. It is vital that suspicious actors be reported quickly, police note. Some burglars are not easily discouraged by home security systems because they plan to break in and leave a property before they think police can respond to the scene. As a result, residents’ early reports of unknown people, unknown vehicles, and unusual activity can help local authorities thwart crimes. Police appreciate details about suspicious vehicles, including license plate information, color, make, and model of the car, and descriptions of any suspicious individuals. Members of the police department will leave crime prevention courtesy cards with residents whose homes are inadequately lit or have other conditions that might attract burglars. Those cards are reminders that, if the police see a house as a potential target, a burglar does, too. Police noted that the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas generally brings a significant increase in burglary activity. As the days become shorter, residents are urged to remember to reset the timers on the lights in their homes. In order to make a home look occupied, residents should leave interior and exterior lights on, collect mail and newspapers from the front of the house, ask a trusted neighbor to pick up any packages that might be delivered during the day, leave lights on in the second floor windows, and leave a radio playing. During the upcoming holiday season, many people leave their homes to visit with friends and family members and to attend parties. At this time of year, residents also tend to keep more cash in their homes, and there are often presents on hand for the December holidays. However, since HoHo-Kus Police Lieutenant Pattman and Sergeant Christopher Minchin started the courtesy card reminder program in 2003, burglary activity in Ho-Ho-Kus during this period has declined. Various burglary rings that employ different methods crop up and disband over time. Several years ago, a group that had been operating out of Teaneck was using “luxury” cars with hidden compartments to hide stolen items. This group was known for ringing the doorbell of a home presumed to be unoccupied and then breaking down the door to gain access to the residence. For more information, or to report suspicious activity, Ho-Ho-Kus residents may call police headquarters at (201) 652-1700.